DOH Caraga declares Agusan Norte as filariasis free
province
By Nora C. Lanuza Molde
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 13 (PIA) – The province of Agusan
del Norte is now declared as filariasis free province by the Department of
Health (DOH) Caraga region in a ceremony held recently here.
The declaration was based on the Transmission
Assessment Survey by the DOH with the support and guidance of the Provincial
Health Office and the cooperation of the local government units (LGUs).
During the declaration, the province also received
P1,000,000 from DOH through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) citing the amount
as a performance-based grant inorder to maintain its status as filariasis free
province.
According to DOH Caraga regional director Jose
Llacuna, DOH is on its course towards the implementation of the Service
Delivery Network and the honing of local government leaders in bridging
leadership and provision of health in the respective communities.
“The program targets individuals, families and
communities living in endemic municipalities in 44 provinces in 12
regions," Llacuna said.
"By year 2018, the National Filariasis
Elimination Program (NFED) of DOH targeted that all of the identified
municipalities will also be free from the disease," Llacuna added.
Filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by an
infection with roundworms. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
POPCOM Caraga gathers advocates, partners for 1st
PHE confab
By May Ann O. Escobal
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Oct. 13 (PIA) -
Advocates and local partners vowed to
integrate Population, Health and Environment (PHE) approach into their plans
during the recently concluded 1st PHE Regional Conference initiated by the
Commission on Population (POPCOM).
Local leaders, partners and stakeholders developed
their respective plans integrating strategic initiatives and interventions that
would greatly address the prevailing issues concerning their sector. They all
agreed that health is a very critical factor in sustainable development since
humans need to be healthy to be productive and able to engage in
environmentally-friendly practices.
POPCOM hopes that the commitments of the local
planners and community leaders in promoting the integration of population,
health and environment in their respective localities and areas of concerns
will be put into account in programming and planning.
SP Committee Chair on Social Services, Health and
Environment, Provincial/City Population Officers, Health and Environment
Officer, students, regional line agencies and media partners were among the
hundreds of participants.
POPCOM Caraga regional director Alexander A.
Makinano heightened the significance of the event for it helped create concepts
and practical guides on integrating PHE through strategic leadership. (POPCOM-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
POPCOM Caraga displays model families
By May Ann O. Escobal
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Oct. 13 (PIA) -
Six families representing the different provinces and cities of Caraga
displayed their family values and showcased their talents during the recent
“Search for Planado at Talentadong Pamilyang Pilipino 2016” with the theme:
“Matatag na Pamilya, Maunlad na Bukas.”
The family contestants joyfully showed off their
group talents during the talent contest and parlor games. They also proved how
harmonious their family is despite of their situation in the community they
live in.
The contestants are 4Ps beneficiaries and
pre-selected on the basis of their maternal health and family planning
practices. Couples of Surigao City, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Go bagged the 1st
Place; Mr. and Mrs. Julito Espia of Surigao del Norte for the 2nd Place; and
Mr. and Mrs. Ronie Yuson from Bayugan City for the 3rd Place.
Commission on Population (POPCOM) Caraga regional
director Alexander A. Makinano highlighted the impact of a well-planned family
size and responsible parenting as shown among the family contestants. “Planning
your family well is very important. Responsible parenting is a series of
decisions of the parents to ensure the best possible life for themselves, for
their children, and for the communities they belong to,” Makinano emphasized.
The Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning
(RPFP) Component under the Philippine Population Management Program (PPMP)
envisions an empowered population where parents, couples, and individuals can
freely decide on and fully exercise their sexual and reproductive health and
rights. Said program also aims to help couples achieve their desired spacing,
timing and number of children according to their socioeconomic, emotional, and
psychological capacity.
The event was spearheaded by POPCOM Caraga in
partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga, in close coordination
with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga and the
local government units of Surigao del Norte and Surigao City. (POPCOM-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
